الحقوق

4.5.11

ETUC & ITUC: The GFBTU safety is under the gravest threat

LabourTime: The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) sent another letter to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton concerning the workers situation in Bahrain.

“We wrote to you last week emphasising how important the ITUC and ETUC believe it was that your visit to Bahrain included meeting with the leadership of the Bahraini unions. We ask you now to specifically seek information about the detention and dismissal of trade unionists“, they said in a letter sent end of last month.

Theyadded “The campaign of intimidation and harassment has continued and intensified in the last week. More than 2000 unionists have now been dismissed from their jobs“. ITUC & ETUC asked Ashton to "ensures that EU missions in Bahrain take an active role in monitoring the whereabouts and conditions of trade unionists and other human rights defenders and to make regular contact with the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Union (GFBTU)".

"Their safety is under the gravest threat“as the letter mentions.

Ashton's visit to Bahrain, which was planned before 10 days were canceled for unknown reasons.

Here is the full letter:=================

Baroness Catherine AshtonHigh Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

By email: Catherine.Ashton@ec.europa.eu

HTUR/DGS/AT 29 April 2011Follow up re concern for the General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions (GFBTU).

Dear High Representative,Further to the letter from the ITUC and ETUC last week just prior to your then planned visit to Bahrain, we are writing again to raise our concerns about the EU formally seeking information on the conditions for protection for trade unionists in Bahrain.

We welcome your statements about the need to pursue dialogue. However, while trade unionists are being targeted with an increasing number of people dismissed from their jobs and more and more serious threats and intimidation, the space for dialogue is not being expanded.

We are very concerned about the lack of respect for the rule of law. You will be aware that yesterday the death penalty was reintroduced.

Events over the past week demonstrate that the government crackdown on dissent has intensified, with more trade unionists, journalists, bloggers, doctors, lawyers and activists being detained. In recent days even village football clubs have been suspended. More than 150 athletes, coaches and referees also have been suspended since April 5 for their alleged involvement in protests against the authorities.

We wrote to you last week emphasising how important the ITUC and ETUC believe it was that your visit to Bahrain included meeting with the leadership of the Bahraini unions. We ask you now to specifically seek information about the detention and dismissal of trade unionists.

The campaign of intimidation and harassment has continued and intensified in the last week. More than 2000 unionists have now been dismissed from their jobs.The ITUC, along with the ETUC asks that your office ensures that EU missions in Bahrain take an active role in monitoring the whereabouts and conditions of trade unionists and other human rights defenders GFBTU. Their safety is under the gravest threat.We ask that you keep in contact with us through the ETUC on these very important matters.